22.10.

1962: Kennedy Imposes Naval Blockade on Cuba

Story Highlights

historical event:

Kennedy declared that every ship bearing offensive weaponry will be turned back. If necessary, he was prepared to extend the blockade to other types of goods. However, Kennedy also said that the USA wouldn't impose the same kind of blockade as the Soviets had imposed on Berlin.

On this day, American president John F. Kennedy declared on TV that the Soviets had placed rocket launchers capable of firing nuclear missiles on Cuba. He reacted by placing Cuba under a strict quarantine. Kennedy declared that every ship bearing offensive weaponry will be turned back. If necessary, he was prepared to extend the blockade to other types of goods. However, Kennedy also said that the USA wouldn’t impose the same kind of blockade as the Soviets had imposed on Berlin in 1948.

During his speech, all U.S. forces were placed on DEFCON 3 (yellow alert). The next day, the Strategic Air Command (SAC), was placed on DEFCON 2 (red alert), the highest level in history. This level was reached only one other time in history, during the Soviet nuclear test in 1989.